& begynneth þe tale
[Sloane MS 1685 folio 214b]
Apore wydowe some dele stope in age
Was whilom dwellynge in a narow cotage
Line 4012
Be-sydes a grove stondynge in a dale
Thys wydow of whiche I telle you my tale
Syþens þilke day þat she was laste a wyfe
In pacience ladde a fulle symple lyf
Line 4016
ffor lytelle was hir/ catelle & hir rent
By husbondry of suche þat god hir/ sent
Sche fonde hir/ self / & eke hir douȝtren two·
Thre large sowes hade she & no moo
Line 4020
Thre kyne & eke a shepe þat hiȝt/ mal
fful soty was hir/ boure and eke hir / hall
In whiche she ete many a sclender mele
Of/ poynaunte sawce hir nedeth nevere a dele
Line 4024
No deynte Morsell passed hir/ throote
hir diete was accordaunt to hir coote
Replecion ne made her neuere seke
A-tempre dyete was alle hir/ physike
Line 4028
And excercise & hert sufficiaunce.
þe gowte let hir/ no thynge to daunce
Ne poplexie ne shente nouȝt hir/ heede
Ne wyne dronke she neiþer whyte nor reede
Line 4032
Her bord was served moste with white & blake [Sloane MS 1685 folio 215a]
Mylke and browne brede in whiche she fonde no lake
Seynde bakon and some tyme an eye or tweie
ffor she was as hit were a manere of a deie
Line 4036
A gardeyne she hade enclosed alle aboute
With stykes and a drye dyche with-oute
In whiche she hade a Cok/ þat hyȝt Chauntelere
In alle þe londe of Crawynge was hys peere
Line 4040
